Movable panel



v 1960 H. NECTOUX 2,947,354

MOVABLE PANEL Filed Feb. 5, 1957 73211111222 l 12 13 G j 0 K O Win/nul- 13 6 11 12 s INXENTOR I-I ENRI NE CTOUX ATTORNEYS t.. E wwmtu United States Patent MOVABLE PANEL Henri Nectoux, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France, assignor to Societe des Forges et Ateliers du Creusot, Paris, France, a company of France The present invention relates to a movable panel intended to provide a non-deformable continuous connection between two elements, fixed and movable respectively, of a wall, and consisting for this purpose of an intermediate element of variable effective length.

Such a movable panel can be used in supersonic blowers wherein the rectangular section of fluid flow is continuously variable by the displacement of a wall element; a movable panel, inserted between this movable wall element and a fixed wall element, allows a continuous non-deformable connection of variable length to be provided between these two elements, while resisting without deformation the forces (pressure or depression) to which it is subjected.

According to the invention, the movable panel comprises a flexible continuous strip of sheet metal attached at one end to the movable wall element, and windable about a rotary drum disposed adjacent to the fixed wall element under the action of a tractive force exerted on the other end of the said sheet metal. The flexible strip is attached to a plurality of equally spaced transverse girders, a carriage is mounted at each end of each girder and, each carriage has rollers disposed in tandem with a roller on each side of the girder respectively. The rollers are mounted in two rolling tracks on either side of the metallic strip. The girders are profiled to mesh with suitable teeth in the drum and the metallic strip bears on the surface of the drum. I

According to another feature of the invention, con nection between the metallic strip and each of the transverse girders is provided by a cemented-on strip consisting of rubber or other similar elastic material.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood one embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a flow tunnel of a supersonic blower,

Figure 2 is an overall elevational view of the movable panel shown on a larger scale, and

Figures 3 and 4 are a longitudinal section and a transverse section respectively through a girder associated with the panel, also on a larger scale.

As shown in Figure 1, the flow of the elastic fluid at supersonic speed is controlled by causing a variation in the distances between the upper fixed wall of the tunnel 21 and a movable wall .1 capable of horizontal displacement. The continuous rectilinear junction between the movable Wall 1 and a lower fixed wall element 2 is provided by a flexible metallic strip 3 attached at one end ice to the movable wall 1, and windable around a drum 4 disposed near the fixed element 2 by the tractive force exerted by cables 5 on the other end of the flexible metallic strip 3.

According to the invention, the strip 13 is attached to equally spaced transverse girders 6 meshing with suitable teeth 7 extending the whole length of the drum 4 (Figure 2).

The girders 6 are V-shaped profiled members (Figure 3), each having a rounded apex bearing against the base of the U-shaped hollow portions of the teeth.

The two arms of the V are connected to one another at their ends by a curved surface 8. The apex of surface 8 takes a recessed position within the teeth, and faces 9 of the teeth form cylindrical supporting elements for the strip 3.

In accordance with the invention, the metallic strip 3 is connected to each of the girders 6 by means of a cemented-on strip 10 (Figure 3) consisting of rubber or any other similar elastic material.

The transverse profile of the curved surface 8 of the girder 6 is such that the rubber strip 10 progressively increases in thickness on either side of the apex of the surface when the metallic strip 3 is rectilinear and the rubber is not then subject to any internal tension.

When metallic strip 3 winds around drum 4, each rubber strip 10 fits into the tooth gap along the winding are E of the metallic strip 3, shown in chain dotted lines in Figure 3.

During rectilinear displacement of the metallic strip 3 the corresponding girders 6 are guided at both ends by carriages 11 to which they are rigidly attached, each of the said carriages being provided with two rollers 12 consisting for example of ball or roller races symmetrically mounted in tandem on either side of the vertical median plane of the girder; the two trains of rollers are displaced without vertical play, maintaining the girders in a vertical position, in two rectilinear rolling tracks 13 provided on either side of the metallic strip 3.

While the girders 6 are in mesh with the drum 4, the rollers 12 are displaced in circular tracks 14 concentric with the drum, the said tracks being joined on the one hand to the tracks 13, and on the other hand to rectilinear tracks 15 parallel to the tension cables 5, regard being had to the orientation of the carriages while the girders are in mesh.

The two circular tracks '14- furthermore allow the rollers 12 a certain radial play.

The movable panel above described may be modified without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A movable panel providing a continuous connection between a fixed element and a movable element of a wall having a drum adjacent said fixed element and a flexible metallic strip winding around said drum and secured to said movable element whereby said strip is deflected out of alignment with the plane of the fixed wall element, comprising a plurality of separate equally spaced transverse girders, a strip of elastic material for and adhesively secured to each of said girders and to said flexible metallic strip, carriages at each end of each of said girders, a track on each side of said metallic strip for said carriages, and teeth in said drum receiving said References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Jales July 5, 1927 4 Brinton Aug. 27, 1929 Kendall May 9, 1933 Ladden et a1. June 19, 1945 Jackson June 14, 1949 Mattix et a1. Mar. 27, 1951 Colley July 17, 1951 Allen Nov. 3, 1953 Gussack Mar. 5, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Oct. 10, 1887 Canada Oct. 12, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTIDN Patent No. 2947354 August 2, 1960 Henri Nectoux It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column l line 37,, for "and read and line 61 for "distances read distance S Signed and sealed this 31st day of January 1961.

(SEAL) Attest:

KARL H. AXLINE ROBERT C. WATSON Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 

